Jimmy Paulson, a fixture in the athletic department at San Bernardino Valley College for nearly 50 years, died last week at the age of 69. Paulson graduated from Pacific High School in 1956 and SBVC in 1959.

While at SBVC he was a student manager for the baseball and wrestling teams. After a brief stint in private business, Paulson was offered the position of athletic equipment manager by Sylvester Heinberg, the chair of the physical education division and coordinator of athletics. He served in that position from 1962 until retiring in 1997, when he was inducted into the SBVC Hall of Fame.

During 35 years as athletic equipment manager, Paulson worked with 45 head coaches, six athletic trainers, five athletic directors, five physical education division chairs and more than 10,000 athletes, 134 of whom played professionally and 12 who qualified for the Olympics.

A moment of silence was held before Saturday’s football game against Compton. Trainer Mike Sola is looking into a more permanent tribute to the mainstay.

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